Category Archives: CIVIL LAW

Q: I am investing my money (trying to grow it beyond being in a regular savings account) and my mom has around $10K that she would also like to add to my money but we are afraid it may raise red flags with the IRS. The transition would be from one bank to a different bank. Also, I am in Pittsburgh, she is in South Carolina. (Regent Square, Pittsburgh, PA)

A: I think you should ask the bank you plan on depositing these funds in to. My recollection is that businesses must fill out an IRS form for every check or cash in the amount of $10,000.00 or over. I believe banks only report deposits from individuals to the IRS if it is cash or of a suspicious nature. These types of deposits occur frequently and the bank doesn’t like to turn in their own good customers. Another consideration is Federal Gift Tax. This amount is under the Federal Gift Tax limit and therefore there would be no concerns regarding your mother’s income taxes. Also, you may want to consider the potential consequences of this transfer if mom needs to apply for Medicaid in the next five years. If she does, this transfer may be render her ineligible for the value of the transfer to you.

Q: I fully answered interrogatories. The defendant went to a judge and told them they wanted more information to harass me. I don’t have more information to give. Some questions were irrelevant to the case and were excessive and abusive. The judge told me to put more information into my answers. I don’t have any more information. Can I state that? Some of the questions have NOTHING to do with the landlord tenants issues in the case. Can I still make an objection to the fact that the question isn’t relevant and creates a security issue with my job? Also, Can I server written depositions on witnesses through mail as written interrogatories? The rules say you can send written questions without notice. Do I just send them to the witness and state they have 30 days to answer? (Washington, PA)

A: You have the right to not answer a question posed through interrogatories if you have a legal basis not to. I suggest you consult with the Discovery section of the PA Rules of Civil Procedure so that you can formulate reasons to object that are legally acceptable. If you do not, you may be back in court on a contempt of court motion. As far as your objection that your answer would give rise to a security issue with your job, I suggest that you look at the rules regarding a motion for protective order. In regard to your notice of deposition, you can depose a party, or a witness, but again you must comply with the Rules of Procedure. You cannot send something called “written depositions” on parties in which you ask them to answer questions. I feel you could greatly benefit from having a lawyer.

Q: I took my car in for a transmission problem and they had the car roughly two months all work was covered under factory warranty. I got the car back and three weeks later my fiancé and my daughter were driving down the road and it caught fire and totaled the car (luckily no one was injured they jumped out of the moving car). There was transmission fluid where the car caught fire on the road. It’s in the police report also. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: I would make sure you notify your auto insurer asap. I would gather all evidence, police reports, your repair bills, and keep notes on all conversations with the dealer or their reps. You may want to have the vehicle sealed or kept in a locked garage by a neutral party to avoid an allegation of tampering with evidence or spoliation. Your insurer may do that for you so their expert can examine the car. They may have a subrogation claim against the dealer for what they pay out to you. Whatever you do, do not give the car back to the dealer prior to a forensic mechanical exam by your insurer or a neutral mechanic. My experience is that car dealers never want to admit fault or liability and never want to pay. Litigation is usually necessary. I would notify them but at the same time do not make any statements to them or their reps and find yourself a lawyer.

Q: I am going to be a law student soon and have some legal knowledge- a family friend is being taken to small claims court for a landlord tenant dispute and wants to file a cross complaint. She asked me if I can prepare it for her. I am not sure if that is impersonating a lawyer or not since I do not have a law license yet. I don’t want to do anything illegal and I tended to think I would be impersonating an attorney. However, I am not sure if there are any statues that permit someone to prepare a legal complaint for someone so long as I tell her story as it is her position and just not represent her (as obviously I cannot do that). Any advice is helpful.

A: I think you can assist her and advise her. If you never identify yourself as her counsel or as a lawyer, do not charge her a fee and never identify yourself on the document or in a court as her lawyer, I think you are safe. I have been involved with pro se litigants who have been assisted by another person, a family member or friend. I have also served on Arbitration panels and have seen the same thing. As long as this is a friend and you are not in the business of doing this, you can advise her on the contents of the document and have her sign it, I think you are distanced from the unauthorized practice of law. If you need a more definitive opinion you can call the PA Disciplinary Board and ask for the Ethics hotline.

Q: I took out a loan with One Main Financial with my automobile as collateral. They take the payment out of my account once a month. All payments have been on time. I was driving my vehicle and the axle broke. I had to have it towed. The shop says it’s totaled whole bottom rusted out. My Insurance Company said they can’t do anything because I was not in an accident. I called One Main. They are asking if my husband can co-sign. I said no way. What can One Main do to me? They are getting their payments every month on time. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: Take your loan agreement to a lawyer for review. Until you do, neither you nor your husband should sign anything. Do not make any statements to them. The loan agreement will state what rights One Main may have. I would imagine you are obligated to pay the money regardless of the car as collateral. If they are getting paid, and your insurance company will not pay out any proceeds for them to go after, I don’t know what recourse they have.

Q: Opposing council has not answered Count 4 of my Civil Complaint as required by the Rules of Civil Procedure. They answered it otherwise. As I understand the PA Rules of Civil Procedure, a failure to specifically deny a paragraph in the complaint has the effect of an admission The Arbitration Hearing is Thursday. Do I just start by saying he has admitted Count 4, and ask for a judgment? (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: I assume you are referencing PA Rule of Civil Procedure 1029? I doubt the board of arbitrators will grant a judgment against the plaintiff for failure to specifically answer a paragraph in a complaint. You can raise it at the hearing and make your argument however.

Q: I have a real estate office in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup again and I just wanted to put a small block in the center of our regular real estate ad in our small local paper (the Sewickley Herald). Several Penguins (Sid Crosby, Mario Limeaux, and the coach, Sullivan) live in our town. We just wanted to do a block in our ad to congratulate them on their big win. We have done real estate business with several players so they know us pretty-well. (Sewickley, PA)

Q: Without the permission of the NHL it is an infringement to use the official Penguins logo. Many people do business with Penguin players, car dealers, dentists, plumbers, landscapers, lawyers, etc. Just think if all of them used the NHL logo in their ad. I think you can grab the advertising value you seek with just naming the team in your ad. By the way, if you want to establish any credibility or rapport with the team, it would help if you spelled Mario’s last name correctly. His name is “Lemieux”.

Q: If a law firm sues me for a credit card debt, should I try to settle it with a phone call to them or hire an attorney? I was making payments to a law firm that collects debt. I missed 1 payment and they called me I told them that I lost my job and it was hard for me to make the payments. I agreed to make a fraction of a payment and they took it. They called me two days later and requested another payment. I told them I could not make another payment for at least 2 weeks. Then I received a letter from a local magistrate that I am being sued.

A: I would consult with an attorney before settling with this company. Many of these claims by debt buyers and not the original creditor. Claims by the debt buyers many times can be defended by being dismissed with preliminary objections or being knocked out at the trial. Often these debt buyers cannot prove the initial contract or any assignment to them from the original creditor.

A: There is a possibility you may be charged with a misdemeanor, summary offenses and local ordinance violations. A “dangerous” dog is one that has attacked, severely injured, or killed a human being or domestic animal, without provocation, and while it was away from its owner’s property. In Pennsylvania, an owner whose “dangerous dog” attacks a person may be guilty of a misdemeanor. You can also be sued in civil court. The measure of damages in a civil case would be limited to the value of the deceased dog and out of pocket medical expenses incurred by owner. These are very unfortunate situations, people simply love their pets. You should consult with an attorney to limit your potential damages. You might also want to consult with your veterinarian and line up an aggression evaluation and perhaps some behavior modification training for the dog to ensure this dog stays on your property.

Q: I have a judgement against someone and a lien on their house from 10/30/2014. The title company just called me for a payoff. I need to know the per diem increase for the amount to complete it. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: Judgments in PA bear interest at a rate of 6% per year. You might also want to check if your judgment included costs and/or attorney fees.